Confetti launcher

ABSTRACT

A novelty device comprising a base and a housing structure supported for rotation with respect to the base. The device may be placed on a cake. The housing structure includes launch tubes assemblies which, when activated, shoot confetti upwards from the housing. An initiator is provided to initiate rotation of the housing structure. As the housing structure rotates, a sequencer activates the launch tube assemblies in a sequential manner. The initiator may also allow a central candle to rise as rotation commences. A sound generation unit plays music, such as “Happy Birthday” as the housing structure rotates.

The present invention relates to a new and improved novelty item, and more particularly to an action display piece that may be placed on a cake, such as a child's birthday cake to provide amusement and interest to the associated celebration.

BACKGROUND

A variety of celebratory novelty items are known. The “Incredible Candle” is a display piece placed on a cake holding a plurality of candles within the closed “petals” of a flower. When the candles are lit, the flower's petal open, exposing the candles. The flower rotates and a musical selection is played.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,468,126 to Herber discloses a pop-up display that can be either placed inside a cake or atop the cake. When activated a figurine, hidden in the unit's housing, rises up and rotates. Once again a musical selection can be played. The figurine may support a candle, and cover flaps for the housing may have pockets in which confetti is located. Movement of the cover flaps as the figurine rises ejects the confetti from the pockets.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,001,019 to Al-Bannai is directed to a pop-up display placed on a cake in the form of a box-like hollow member with pivotable cover elements held in the closed position by a thread or strap. When activated the thread or strap is severed, freeing the cover elements, and a spring loaded insert in the form of a paper banner pushes the cover elements aside and pops up. The activation member may be a candle that burns through the thread or strap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a novelty item that provides increased interest and amusement that can be placed atop a birthday cake or similar item. It comprises a base that supports a rotating housing structure. The housing structure in turn comprises a plurality of launching tube assemblies that are preferably spring loaded and contain a plurality of confetti-like elements, which may be edible bits, small pieces of glitter or the like. As used herein the generic term “confetti” shall mean and include any of the variety of such materials that may be loaded into the launching tube assemblies. As the rotating structure turns, the launching tube assemblies are activated in a sequential order, projecting the confetti upwards and out of the tubes to provide a gentle confetti shower about the structure and cake. The main structural elements of the construction are preferably of plastic, as known in the art.

Initiation of the structure's rotation and confetti launching is provided by a timing mechanism. In a preferred embodiment the timing mechanism comprises a string, which when severed releases a mechanism that starts operation of the device. The string may be severed by burning, which in turn may result from the action of a burning wick of a candle positioned on the structure. When the candle burns down sufficiently the burning wick severs the string, thus inducing a delay from the initial lighting of the candle, injecting a sense of anticipation and surprise to the resulting operation of the device. In addition to activation of the launching tubes, structure rotation may cause the rising of a centrally located candle, and the rotation may be accompanied by the playing of an appropriate melody, such as “Happy Birthday”. Other timing mechanisms may be used, such as mechanical or electrical timers. Alternatively, an appropriate mechanism may be provided to allow for immediate rotation of the structure upon activation of the mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the present invention will be ascertained upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, when reviewed in connect with the annexed drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a confetti launcher in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the launcher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detail exploded view of the stationary base of the launcher;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the base of the rotating unit or the launcher;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are respectively top and bottom plan view of the base of the rotating unit;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the base of FIG. 5 showing a launch lever and the release crank;

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the base, launch lever and release crank as shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of a launch lever;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the launch lever of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an elevation view of the launch crank assembly and trigger assembly;

FIG. 11 is an elevation view of the base and launch crank, further showing the sound generating unit;

FIG. 12 is a detail exploded view of a launching tube assembly;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of a launching tube assembly; and

FIG. 14 is a view, partially in phantom, showing the positioning of a launching tube assembly and its components on the rotating housing of the apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As depicted in FIG. 1, confetti launcher device 10 is preferably configured to be placed upon a cake 12, although it can be placed on any flat surface. Base assembly 14 supports rotating housing 16 assembly, which supports a plurality of generally vertical confetti launching tube assemblies including launch tubes 18. Each of the tube assemblies, which may be spring loaded, shoots a plurality of confetti elements 20, which rise up and float back down about the launcher. The upper surface of the housing may also include a series of candle holders 22. A trigger system, activated by the user, starts rotation of the housing assembly, allowing for the sequential firing of the launching tubes. Upon rotation a central candle holder, not shown in the figure but to be discussed below, rises. The trigger system also activates an internal sound generator, which plays as the housing rotates.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative construction of the launcher. Base assembly 14 comprises bottom and top plates 24, 30. As shown a rotational drive system, which comprises main drive spring 26 and drive plate 28 for the rotating housing, is positioned between the bottom and top base plates. The bottom and top plates may be held together by screws, not shown. Other drive systems, such as a small motor, can be used in place of a spring drive.

Rotating housing structure 16, which supports the launching tube assemblies 126, comprises bottom plate 32, main housing 34, and top cap 48. Launch levers 36, which trigger release of the confetti from the launch tube assemblies 18, are mounted to the bottom plate 32. A trigger system comprises trigger string 38 within the housing, extending between release crank 46 and trigger string candle holder 104 mounted to the exterior of the housing Sound-generating unit 40 is also located within the housing 16.

Each of the three confetti launch tube assemblies comprises a launch tube 18 positioned in a respective semi-cylindrical depression on the main housing 34. Each launch tube supports a confetti launch spring 42 which drives a piston 44 upward within the launch tube to eject confetti loaded into the launch tube. The springs are initially in a compressed configuration between a lower face of the piston and the main housing 34, with the pistons being retained in a cocked position by the launch levers 36. As the housing assembly rotates, each of the levers is sequentially pivoted out of contact with the respective piston, allowing ejection of the confetti in the launch tube.

Release crank 46 is positioned centrally within housing 34, biased by spring 50. Upon activation of the launcher, as further discussed below, the crank rises, allowing the housing to rotate, sequentially activating the launchers and activating the sound-generating unit. Central candle support 52 and collar 54 are connected to crank 46 and rise with the crank, raising a candle (not shown) as the housing begins to rotate. As indicated above, for clarity the candle-rising mechanism is not shown in FIG. 1. Top plate 48 caps the main housing 34 and has a central bore for the candle support 52, holders 128 for additional candles, and bores through which the upper ends of the launch tubes project.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed exploded view of the base assembly 14. Bottom plate 24 and top plate 30 are joined together by screws (not shown) extending through bosses 56 in the bottom plate and being received by similar bosses (not shown) on the interior of the top plate. Drive plate 28 for the rotating housing is enclosed within the base assembly, abutting against the interior surface of top plate 30 with its cylindrical drive shaft 58 extending through and projecting above the bore in collar 64 in top plate 30. The lower portion 60 of the drive shaft 58 includes a slot 62 to engage with the inner end 66 of main drive spring 26. The outer end 68 of the spring is retained by a tab (not shown) on the interior of top plate 30, the spring being able to be wound taut between the top plate and the drive shaft plate. Top plate 30 also has bore 70 to accept the lower end of release crank 46, and cam 72 formed as a part of collar 64 for activation engagement with launch levers 36.

FIGS. 4, 5A and B, 6 and 7 further illustrate the base plate 32 for the rotating housing structure 16, along with release crank 46 and a launch lever 36, while FIGS. 8 and 9 depict a launch lever in detail. Referring initially to FIGS. 4, 5A and 5B, rotating base plate 32 includes bosses 106 for screws (not shown) to fasten the base plate to the main rotating housing 34, along with bosses 74 for reception of the lower portion of shafts 76 of the launch levers 36, as best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9. The base plate also includes raised guides 78 to support the trigger arms 80 and arms 81 of the launch levers as they rotate. The base plate's hollow raised center section 84 accepts the collar 64 of base top plate 30 (see FIG. 3) while allowing the base plate to rotate with respect to the collar, and includes three cutouts 82 which form notches for receipt of the cam arms 86 of the launch levers. With the cam arms so received, the trigger arms 80 of the levers retain the pistons of the confetti launch tube assemblies in their initial lower and loaded positions. However, as the base plate 32 and housing 16 rotates with respect to the base 14, each of the cutouts 82 and its retained lever cam arm 86 sequentially passes by and contacts the cam 72 of the of the base's top plate 30, which pivots the lever and its trigger arm 80 out of contact with the launch tube piston, releasing the piston to eject the confetti.

The base plate's central section 84 also includes downward extending shaft 100, which is received by and engaged with the drive shaft 58 of drive plate 28 in the base 14, allowing the base and thus the rotating housing to rotate with respect to the base 14. The central section further includes a pair of guides 88 for the trigger cord 38, and supports 90 for the sound board 40.

FIGS. 6 and 7 further illustrate a launch lever 36 with its cam arm 84 in a cutout 82 of the central section, and release crank 46 extending upwardly, its horizontal arm 92 resting on the top of central section 84 between the trigger cord guides 88. Arm 92 is provided with through-bore 94 for the trigger cord 38, the bore being aligned with the guides 88. Crank pin 96 at the end of arm 92 of the release crank extends downwardly through bore 98 in base 32, and extends into the corresponding bore 70 in the top plate 30 of the fixed base assembly 14 (see FIG. 3).

In the initial assembled configuration, spring 26 is wound taut between the top plate 30 of the base assembly and the drive plate 28 for the rotating housing assembly (see FIG. 3). The drive plate's drive shaft 58 is joined to the shaft 100 of the rotating unit's base plate 32, while the drive shaft's surrounding collar 64 of the fixed base's top plate 30 with its cam 72 extends into the hollow interior of the rotating housing assembly's base central section 84. Crank pin 96 of the release crank extends into the base's top plate bore 70, locking the rotating housing assembly to the fixed base, preventing relative motion between the rotating housing assembly's base plate 32 and the fixed base 14.

FIG. 10 presents release crank 46 and its associated assembly elements along with the associated trigger assembly. Release crank assembly 102 comprises release crank 46, collar 54, and central candle holder 52, joined together. Drive spring 50 surrounds collar 54, with its upper end resting against the bottom of candle holder 52. The lower end of the spring rests against an internal flange of main rotating body 34. With the release crank 46 in its initial (lower) position, with its crank pin 96 extending into the bore 70 of the top plate 30 of the fixed base, preventing rotation of the housing assembly, the drive spring 50 is in a compressed orientation. Looped trigger string 38 passes through throughbore 98 in the crank arm, as well as through the two guides 88 of the rotating housing assembly's bottom plate 32 (see, e.g. FIGS. 4 and 5) and leads into and through trigger string candle holder 104. The trigger string loop, being held taut, retains the release crank assembly in its initial lower position against the upward bias provided by the drive spring 50. When the loop is cut, the retaining force on the release crank assembly disappears, allowing the crank assembly to rise, raising the crank pin 96 out of the top plate bore 70. The rotating housing assembly begins to rotate, allowing sequential operation of the launch levers.

FIG. 11 illustrates the unit's battery-operated sound generating unit (SGU) 40 and its relationship to the crank assembly. The rising of the crank assembly also initiates operation of the SGU. As known in the art, the SGU includes an appropriate tone-generating circuitry along with a battery and a speaker. The SGU is held by supports 90 on base 32. When the release crank 46 is in the initial lower position, tab 108 on release crank 46 is interposed between battery spring 110 and a contact pad on the main portion of the SGU, keeping the unit turned off. When the crank assembly rises the battery spring contacts the pad, powering the SGU and generating the programmed sounds, such as “Happy Birthday” as the launch structure rotates.

FIGS. 12, 13 and 14 detail the confetti launch tube assemblies. Each assembly comprises a launch tube 18, which carries piston 44 and launch spring 42. The launch tube 18 has a laterally extending spine 112 with mates with a corresponding groove in the receiving semi-cylindrical depression on the main housing, as seen in FIG. 2. Piston 44 includes a guide tab 114 that fits within a complementary laterally-extending slot 116 on the interior surface of the launch tube to control the travel of the piston within the tube. The slot has a termination point 116 to prevent the piston from exiting the tube upon confetti launch. The piston also has a depending leg 120 terminating in hook 122 for engagement with the corresponding launch lever 36. Each launch tube sits within a floored boss 124 on the main rotating housing 34, with the leg 120 extending through an aperture in the floor to engage with the corresponding launch lever. The tubes may be canted inwardly about 5 degrees from the vertical to launch the confetti over the device.

The assembled launcher 10, has main drive spring 26 wound into a tensioned condition and maintained in that condition by pin 96 of release crank 46 extending into the retention bore 70 in the top plate 30 of base 14. Each of the launch tube assemblies is loaded with confetti, their respective pistons being in the cocked and loaded positions, with their springs 42 compressed. The pistons are maintained in the cocked and loaded configuration by their respective launch levers 36 engaging the hooks 122 of the pistons. With the launcher placed in the desired position, such as on the top of a birthday cake, candle may be placed on the central candle holder 52 and the surrounding holders on top cap 48 and the candles lit. To activate the launcher, trigger string 38 is cut, preferably by the burning down of a candle placed on trigger candle holder 104. With the string cut, release crank assembly 102 is free to by the action of spring 50. The rising disengages the pin 96 from the retention bore 70, allowing the main housing assembly to rotate and completing the circuit for the SGU, which starts playing the stored melody. As the housing rotates each of the launch levers is sequentially pivoted by the cam 72, releasing the associated hook of the launch tube assembly piston, allowing the piston to rise, ejecting the confetti from the launch tube. 

1. A novelty device comprising a base and a housing structure supported for rotation with respect to the base, the housing structure comprising an activator for initiating rotation of the structure; a plurality of confetti launch tube assemblies, each including a launch tube having a distal end from which material loaded into the launch tube is ejected directly into the air; and means for activating each of the launch tube assemblies in a continuous sequential manner after activation as the housing structure rotates to eject the material from the launch tube assembly.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drive for rotating the housing in the single continuous manner.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein the initiator comprises a timer whereby rotation of the structure by the drive commences a delay time after the timer is activated.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a spiral spring tensioned between a base housing and a rotating drive plate operatively connected to the housing structure.
 5. The device of claim 4 wherein the drive plate is maintained in an initial fixed position with the spiral spring tensioned by a pin.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein the pin is located on a crank lever located in the housing structure.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein crank lever is mounted for vertical travel within the housing structure.
 8. The device of claim 7 wherein the crank lever is spring loaded for upward travel and is initially maintained in a lowered position with the pin being in the releasable lock locking position.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the retainer releases the crank lever for upward travel upon activation of the initiator, allowing the housing to rotate with respect to the base.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the initiator includes a timer comprises a string, the string serving as the retainer.
 11. The device of claim 10 further including means for severing the string to release the crank lever.
 12. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for severing is a candle.
 13. The device of claim 8 wherein the crank lever supports a candle holder.
 14. The device of claim 1 wherein the confetti launch assemblies are located on an exterior of the housing.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein each confetti launch assembly comprises a launch tube and a spring loaded piston within the launch tube configured for travel from an initial cocked position for discharge of confetti loaded within the housing.
 16. The device of claim 15 wherein each piston is retained in the initial cocked position by a launch lever engaging the piston, the launch levers being located within the housing.
 17. The device of claim 15 wherein the base includes a cam extending into the housing for sequential engagement with the launch levers for disengaging the launch levers from the respective pistons.
 18. The device of claim 17 wherein the launch levers comprise part of the sequencer. 